Landmark Havana Building Evacuated as Hazardous

HAVANA TIMES, March 14 — The landmark Sarra Building, located at the centrally located corner of 23rd and 12th streets in Havana, was evacuated this past weekend due to its “deplorable physical condition,” reported the Cubaencuentro website.

According to the report, officials and staff from the municipal government, the Housing Department, the Police and Fire departments showed up at the property on Friday, March 8, “to immediately enforce the evacuation decision.”

Residents were relocated to a shelter located in the outlying La Lisa municipality.

The Cubaencuentro report refers to official data, according to which over 50 percent of the structures on the island are in poor condition and 85 percent are in need of repair.